Anorexia sufferer's family to challenge HSE

The High Court has granted leave to the family of a young woman suffering from anorexia and depression to challenge the HSE's refusal to fund treatment for her at an English clinic.

The court heard the 22-year-old woman's family re-mortgaged their home last year to pay the €100,000 cost to date of the treatment at the Newmarket House Clinic in Norwich and to raise money for future treatment.

The family were told it was feared the woman, said to be suffering with anorexia and depression since 2002, would suffer organ failure if she did not receive appropriate treatment

This financial burden was causing stress and hardship to the woman and her family, the court was told.

The court heard when the woman's family sought funding from the HSE for treatment at the English clinic, a HSE doctor who examined her said she was not suffering with anorexia and could be treated as an out-patient.

Mr Justice Michael Peart today granted leave to James O'Mahony SC, for the woman, to bring judicial review proceedings challenging the HSE's refusal of funding.

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